Sorting office staff given counselling over suicides

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorting office staff given counselling as three of their colleagues die in suspected suicides

http://www.northlondon-today.co.uk/News ... 20suicides" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


COUNSELLORS have been drafted in to a Royal Mail office after three postmen are suspected to have committed suicide in the past ten weeks.

Staff in the close-knit sorting office in Southbury Road, Enfield, have been left reeling in shock after the three posties – Steve Bland, 48, of Browning Road, Enfield, Derek Lake-Berger, 45, of Scotland Green Road, Ponders End, and Alexander Campbell, 51, of Dimsdale Drive, Enfield – are thought to have taken their own lives. Formal inquests have yet to be held.

The cluster of deaths has provoked Royal Mail to send counsellors to the sorting office to speak to staff who have been left traumatised.

John McIrvine, who is the Communication Workers Union representative at the Enfield office, said: “Everyone is in shock at the moment. We’re working with Royal Mail to offer any support to the families affected by these tragic deaths and to any members of staff who need support at this time.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “These are private, tragic matters which we would not comment on other than offering our condolences to the families and friends of the individuals involved.”

It is suspected that Mr Bland hanged himself on July 25. His death was followed by Mr Lake-Berger’s on October 2. Mr Campbell died five days later on October 7. He is also suspected of hanging himself.

Last October, most of the 200 workers at the office went on strike over changes to working conditions and pay at the office. This followed a troubled summer where post was left undelivered after management axed overtime.

A Samaritans spokesman said: “It is important people in distress talk about how they are feeling. In light of these three deaths we urge anyone in distress to contact us for confidential support.”

Call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I hope members understand that this thread will be heavily moderated if required. Please keep the comments and language respectable, and where possible please English Grammar only.

Commiserations to all the families involved and I hope their colleagues get the help they need.

[stokes11eg]

How very sad. And yes. heartfelt sympathies to the families. I have no doubt at the inquests which follow such events, the reasons for taking their own lives may be brought out in to the open.

[labbloke]

My heartfelt sympathies go to our brothers families and friends in Enfield.

This maybe the real cost of pressure and stress being used to achieve more for less.

[not me]

well im sure we are all thinking the correlation of all working for RM at a troubled DO could be the causal factor here
wonder if we have any on the other staff here on RMC?

[music4essex]

This is really sad to read, condolances go out to family and work collegues

Essex mum

[hantsman]

I nearly posted on this subject a while ago.

I have felt very low myself while working for RM so I do hope RM look into this whatever the reasons.

[hantsman]

Bump

[Calm71]

Indeed, very sad. Again my thoughts are with the families. I've often heard of bullying by management in the media but I have yet to experience it myself. All of the 4 managers I have worked for seem to be decent blokes. Yes they have put pressure on me to work faster occasionally due to what they consider to be excessive overtime, but always in a civilized way, never in an abusive manner. If anyone has suffered downed right abuse at the hands of their DOM or higher then I'm sure we'd all be interested to hear about it.

I won't presume to guess what must have been going through these poor individual's heads, but I can share with you how I have successfully managed to reduce my stress levels. I do not get to work any earlier than I am paid to. Getting in earlier unpaid brews resentment and negativity. I sort at my own pace but I don't do so in a panic, as this can cause one's heart rate to go up and stay up. It is very easy to create demons in one's own mind by listening to office gossip, ie rumours about a DOM's budget practices or RM's policies. One can get very worked up unnecessarily. If you are worried about something then ask your DOM. If they are found wanting, then you have avenues open to you.

Seriously, I used to get in way too early, break out into a cold sweat whilst prepping and run round in order to finish my round on time, this just makes you miserable. If you start putting in the overtime and you get pressure put on you, stand up for your rights and involve your rep. Also don't be afraid to break off, this is your right.

DOM's are just people and we are all adults, this ain't a playground. You are not your job and your job is not your life, sure it's a fast paced world we live in, but whatever happens to RM they will always need the guys to deliver the mail so try not to worry unnecessarily.

I am appalled that three men could have felt so alone and without recourse that they came to this. We all have counsellors, union reps, help lines and area managers, there is no need for any of us to be totally alone.

[westlondonpostie]

R.I.P Boys, rest easy.

[Lounge Lizard]

Such tragic events are bound to lead to media speculation as to whether the suicides were related, just as was the case with other suicide clusters,

in Northern ireland "Closely-knit communities surrounding Portadown in Northern Ireland are grieving the deaths of three 15-year-old school friends, Lee Walker, James Topley, and Wayne Browne. Each died by suicide within the last three weeks. The boys all attended Craigavon Senior High School and lived near each other"

in Wales "Police and health services in south Wales have set up a group aimed at preventing more suicides in Bridgend and the surrounding area. Last week Natasha Randall, 17, was found hanged at her home at Blaengarw, near Bridgend, and a girl believed to know her self-harmed a day later. Seven young people have committed suicide in the past year in the area.

in Scotland "A "cluster" of suicides among young adults has been identified in one of the most deprived parts of Scotland.
Experts at the University of St Andrews said they were the first to find a "persistent and remarkably consistent" geographical concentration of suicides. They said the cluster was focused on the east end of Glasgow.

in England "The body of a sixth suspected suicide victim in the space of a year has been found in a Staffordshire village. Carpenter Terry Ball, 35, was found hanged at his home in Gnosall on Sunday. And the home he shared with wife Jane, 33, is in the same street Peter Forrester, a lorry driver, took an overdose seven months ago. Only 5,000 people live in Gnosall and only three weeks ago a special church service was held to support people who were coming to terms with the deaths. An inquiry headed by coroner Andrew Haig has been launched in the village and beermats advertising The Samaritans have been placed in all the village's pubs. The sequence of deaths began when postman Craig Parsons, 40, was found hanged in December last year."

[BELIAL]

From the FT "the Paris prosecutors office has opened an investigation into allegations of "workplace harassment"at France Telecom following a spate of suicides at the company"

France telecom - 100,000 employees ; 2008,2009 -35 suicides, 2010 -11 suicides so far.

Deputy chief executive Louis - Pierre "cost Killer" Wenes resigned.

[fatherchristmas]

my sympathies go to all concerened i worked their some years ago for 6/7 years good office good blokes to work with.

[smokerjim]

My deepest condolences and sympathies go out to these gentlemen's family, friends and colleagues, especially in these hard to understand circumstances - may their souls find peace.

Hantsman ( or anyone else ), if you are feeling miserable on a regular basis SEE YOUR GP NOW!!! If you are clinically depressed, he will get you help, if you are not clinically depressed, he can still offer - sadly I'm still struggling ( I was on a course of CBT, till the budget was cut in July - and that knocked me right back, I will now be going on the list for psychotherapy, with an option for CBT later ), it's not nice, and home is where I feel the worst & while work does exacerbate it, when the day's on song, I'm flying. [/preaching]

My take on this story is that the three gents, were depressed to varying degrees, and doubtless didn't realise how bad it was ( I only realise now how bad I was 15 years ago - thinking of suicide wasn't enough for me to notice - I didn't seek any help, and by the grace of God I'm still here ), and after Mr Bland reached his own breaking point, it deeply affected Mr Lake-Berger and Mr Campbell ( on delivery, you can have a lot of time to think, and if you are depressed, it's hard to think of happy thoughts ). My point is, whatever the conduct of local management prior to Mr Bland's death, they might not have said or done anything to provoke any repurcussions, and until anything is known the benefit of the doubt should go to the local management.

[doomed]

I read this with sadness that the UK workplace has gone down to this level and all because of Thatcher/ tory cut backs disease / anti union laws and the greed of management and company directors who would not know a hard days graft it hit them in the face. Our dom only this morning made light of these deaths so all the office could hear it . I won’t post it here out of respect to the families who are going through hell as we carry on. We posties have a bit more compassion than the sick minded Dom that works under the guise of "manager" HE disgusts me to be honest.


My thoughts are with the families.